Shawn was the first to wake up in a house that was not his own. It was still dark out but the sky was turning a bright purple as the hint of a sunrise was only a short while away. If he was able to tell time, he would’ve known that it was a little past 5:30 in the morning. He didn’t care about time, as of yet it was a meaningless measurement to him; something only adults used to tell him when it was time to play or time to go to sleep. He remembered going to sleep being held by Jenny, but their positions were now changed and he was now holding her. It felt good to his as their flesh meshed together and Jenny’s arm draped over his broader shoulders. The more Shawn thought about holding the smaller child in his arms, the happier he became and his other problems seemed to momentarily fade into the background. He watched as Jenny contently sucked her thumb, oblivious to life around her and Shawn felt a strong emotion that he would associate with one of his parents; yet this was distinctively different. Shawn leaned in and kissed Jenny on her puffed out cheek for the simple reason that the action felt like the right thing to do.

Jenny stirred as if she was Sleeping Beauty and the handsome prince had just woken her from an eternity of slumber. She didn’t mind seeing Shawn’s face as her eyes fluttered open and when she realized her arm was still around him, she squeezed a hug and drew herself more to eye level. “Good morning, Shawn,” she whispered as they shared a pillow.

“’ Morning Jenny,” Shawn whispered back and looked into her deep blue eyes.

“I hope you didn’t have any bad dreams,” Jenny said as she pulled the sheet over their heads as if that would keep the world from knowing they were there. “I tried my best to keep them away.”

“I had good dreams,” Shawn said and smiled more because he remembered they were both without clothes than at any remembrance of his dreams.

“Good, I’m glad. I use to get bad dreams all the time when I got hit,” Jenny confided.

“Jenny, can I tell you something?” Shawn said as he looked at Jenny’s face. He already discovered the rest of their differences and he didn’t consider look at them again, that, and with their bodies so close together, when he did chance a look towards their feet, his view ended at their touching chests.”

“Sure Shawn, you can tell me something,” Jenny said and playfully touched her nose against his in her cutesy little way.

Shawn giggled. “I think you’re pretty.”

Now it was time for Jenny to slightly blush. “Thank you Shawn, and I think you’re very handsome.”

“Do you want to be my girlfriend,” Shawn abruptly asked.

Jenny had heard that word before and knew that it meant something more than being a girl and a friend at the same time. She just didn’t happen to know the particulars. “What would you do if I was your girlfriend?” Jenny slyly asked, trying to get more information before deciding.

“We would hold hands and I would give you flowers and we spend time playing together; and sometimes we would kiss.” Shawn giggled at the last statement and hoped Jenny didn’t mind.

Jenny didn’t mind at all and placed her lips on Shawn’s. They kissed the only way that most four year olds know how, a simple peck, but the placement was what separated it from a normal everyday kiss and a boyfriend-girlfriend kiss; at least to them. “Okay,” Jenny said when they separated. “I’ll be your girlfriend.”

“Cool,” Shawn said and then smiled as big as he could.

It was decided, the way small children normally decide to move from one thing to another, without much thought and fewer words that they would make use of the toys Jenny had to offer. In this case, it was the dollhouse they played with. Shawn spent his time divided between playing and looking at Jenny, solidifying how boys and girls were different. Jenny knew what the boy was doing, but didn’t mind because, even though they once shared the same anatomy, she was also curious of his body and how their bodies were now different.

“I thought I heard you two up,” Skeeter said as he looked into the room and was the two naked children playing with toys and not, as he had been imagining, destroying their youthful innocence through mutual exploration.

“Hi Dad,” Shawn said happily as he looked up and smiled.

Jenny looked at the marks still present on Shawn’s backside and then at Skeeter suspiciously. Though she was told that her friend received those wounds from his mother, her life experience told her that it was the men who hit hard and women who said the hurtful words. Unfortunately, much of society shares her view as the norm.

“How about we get you in some clothes before a little birdie comes along and snatches your willy away thinking it’s a worm,” Skeeter teased.

“No,” Shawn laughed and covered himself with both hands.

Jenny raised an eyebrow at Skeeter as she eyed him.

Skeeter picked up his child and started out the room. “I got some of your clothes from home,” he told his son, not mentioning that his wife wasn’t home when he got there. “This way you don’t have to go to school dressed in Jenny’s things.”

Jenny followed them, but kept a safe distance. If she saw any hitting about to go on, she was prepared to rush in and protect her new boyfriend.

“Dad, girl’s don’t have wee-wees,” Shawn said proudly in a whisper as they descended the stairs.

Skeeter chuckled at his son’s thinking he was the first to discover such a fact. “That’s right Shawn, that’s the only difference between boys and girls your age and you should treat both nicely.”

“I like girls, they’re pretty,” Shawn said confidently as he was placed on the couch so his dad could dress him.

“That’s definitely good to know,” Skeeter said as he held up a pair of Superman Funderware. “Now step in and let’s get you ready for school.”

“Jenny is my girlfriend,” Shawn gushed as he was being dressed.

“That’s very nice,” Skeeter went along, knowing that children’s concepts of relationships were much different from adults. “You be sure to treat her special.”

Jenny watched from the doorway as father and son talked nicely. She waited to see if any signs of Skeeter hitting Shawn would show up, but none ever did. When Shawn was placed on the couch to watch morning cartoons, Jenny walked in and made her presence known.

Skeeter looked at the pink skinned little girl. “I think you should get dressed for school too, Sweetie,” he said politely. “Or are you going to let everyone see your coochie.” The last word came out hesitantly as Skeeter didn’t know what word to use when describing the little girl’s anatomy.

“You promise not to his Shawn when I’m gone,” Jenny said sternly as she stood with her hands on her hips and feet spread apart.

“Scout’s honor,” Skeeter said as solemnly as he could to the child who nobly stood before him in defiance. It was all he could do not to laugh.

“I’ll be right back,” Jenny stated and then scampered off to her room where her mother was waiting for her. Melissa didn’t admit it to the child but she eavesdropped on the early morning conversation and even though she didn’t see the interaction, she pictured it well enough and found it precious.

“We shouldn’t keep your boyfriend waiting,” Melissa teased as she dressed the child in a pink skirt and white top.

‘Mom,” Jenny whined in protest before realizing that’s what she and the boy agreed upon. “He’s very handsome,” she blushed and giggled.

As soon as she was completely dressed, Jenny ran downstairs to make sure that Shawn was completely whole; he was. It was decided that Melissa would drive both children to school and depending on what transpired during the day, she offered Skeeter a temporary place to stay if the need arose.

After making sure that Shawn and Jenny were comfortably settled into their class, Melissa drove to the hospital. Though it was a wondrous place, filled with caring staff and all the medical marvels that one could hope to find in a medical facility, Melissa was beginning to hate the place. She was on first name basis with much of the staff on Chase’s floor and that was a huge indicator that she was there way too much. If only Chase would wake up and get back home, then she would never have to walk down the pale yellow halls ever again. Life would be much happier then.

“Chase, time to get up and go to work. You’re late,” Melissa said as she gently shook her husband. She hoped she could trick him out of his coma, but it didn’t work and Chase remained still.

“It was worth a shot,” she said as she pulled up a chair to the side of the bed and took a sip of coffee from a large mug. “You’re going to have to get up soon Chase, you do realize that. The doctor said that it’s only a matter of time, that your wound is healed and that you don’t have any brain damage. So, whenever you’re ready to join the rest of us in the real world, we’re all waiting.”

Melisa held onto her husband’s hand and turned the TV on to ESPN, so if Chase wanted to and was capable, he could keep track of the baseball season and the upcoming football spring training, as she called it.

“We have a real doozy on our hands with Skeeter, Melissa said after half an hour. “It seems Diane really went off the deep end.”

“Sarge, I mean she’s way out there,” Skeeter said to his C.O. “Just listen to this,” he played the tape of his last conversation with his wife.

The Sarge listened to the complete message before turning off the machine. “Looks like Diane is trying to put you in a real tight spot.”

“It’s not me that I’m worried about, it’s my son. When I saw those strap marks I literally felt sick. No child should be beat with a belt, but a four year old, that’s taking things to the extreme.

“You know everyone here is family and we’ll look out for you, especially with the tape proving Diane is looking to put you in a bad light at any cost. I’m not saying you’ve got an easy decision in front of you, ‘cause God knows you don’t. But, as the old saying goes, the ball is in your court,” The Sarge finished his last statement while flipping through a rolodex and pulling out a few loose business cards.

Skeeter stood up and paced about the room for a few moments. He leaned over the chair and placed his hands on the armrests. “Not to long ago, Diane said why don’t I stand up for what is right. I said I would whenever I figured what right was. She’s not leaving me much of a choice now, is she? I think the first thing I need to do is get a temporary restraining order and keep Shawn safe. Don’t you think?’

The Sarge smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think I’m one to give an opinion in this case, never had this kind of problem on my hand and for that I am truly thankful. Now, you do realize that by doing this the likelihood of you and Diane patching things up is going to greatly decrease.

“If this doesn’t wake her up to the fact that what she’s doing is wrong and that she needs help, then there is no relationship to salvage,” Skeeter said with conviction.

“Fill out the forms and I’ll make the appropriate phone calls.” The Sarge extended a business card to Skeeter. “You’re probably going to need this in the foreseeable future.”

Skeeter snorted a laugh. “A lawyer, who would’ve thought that things would go so far? I’ll probably give him a call later on, for now I think I better get started on the paperwork and get this whole ball of wax rolling.” He turned to walk away.

“Hey, Skeeter,” the Sarge called as the officer made it to the door.

“Yeah Sarge?” Skeeter asked as he turned around.

“For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right thing.”

“Thanks a lot,” Skeeter said sincerely. “That really means a lot to me.”

Diane was sitting on the couch watching the Jerry Springer Show when there was a knock at the door. Annoyed that she was going to miss the results of the paternity tests, she tied her robe so she could be decent and trudged to the door. “This better be important,” she growled at the older lady in the business dress.

“Mrs. Diane Sweet?” the lady said with a questioning tone.

“Yeah, that’s my name. So now who are you?” Diane snapped.

“I’m Mrs. Walker from social services. I’m here to present you with court orders to not be within a thousand yards of the minor Shawn Sweet pending the outcome of our investigation,” she said seriously, void of any emotion.

“A restraining order ?!?” Diane said in shock. “Against me? There must be some mistake. Why are you doing this to me?”

“According to our preliminary reports, we feel that you present a danger to the child’s welfare and well being. You have 24 hours to vacate the premises. If you need further assistance understanding all that is in the court order you can call this number.” Mrs. Walker extended a business card to Diane.

“This is a mistake, you’ve got it all wrong. It’s Skeeter, my husband, who’s abusing Shawn.” Diane started to cry. “He’s molesting my baby and when I threatened to call the police if he didn’t get help he took Shawn from me and he did all of this.”

Mrs. Walker had been well informed of the possibility that this tactic was going to happen. She had heard the tape and was surprised the play took so long to come about. “Then I suggest you file a report with your local police department, something that should’ve been done a very long time ago if what you say is true. Now, I’ve a ton of work to catch up on, the investigation shouldn’t take long. Good day.”

Diane watched as the older lady walked away and disappeared beyond the stars. “You cold hearted bitch,” she shouted and slammed the door. Diane huffed back into the living room and slammed herself into the chair. The clock on the wall fell and hit her on the skull to only add to the headache she was already feeling.

In a whirlwind of activity, Diane decided that if she wasn’t wanted, she’d pack as fast as she could. Of course, she would take a few personal mementos so they, her husband and her son, would remember how much they actually missed her.